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==History==
==History==
===Idealization and construction===
In the dwindling years of the [[Byzantines|Byzantine Empire]], many of the Imperial palaces laid in ruins, shattered by centuries of fighting and economic collapse. Following the Ottoman conquest, Sultan {{Wiki|Mehmed II}} envisioned a palace at a strategically secure spot atop First Hill, the very tip of the peninsula.<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
In the dwindling years of the [[Byzantines|Byzantine Empire]], many of the Imperial palaces laid in ruins, shattered by centuries of fighting and economic collapse. Following the Ottoman conquest, Sultan {{Wiki|Mehmed II}} envisioned a palace at a strategically secure spot atop First Hill, the very tip of the peninsula.<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>


Construction on the Sultan's new palace, then called Yeni Sarayi (New Palace), initially began in 1459, and concluded nearly a decade later, although every subsequent Sultan would continue to add to the overall complex. However, towards the end of his reign, [[Bayezid II]] relocated his throne to the original Ottoman capital of {{Wiki|Edirne|Adrianople}} following an {{Wiki|1509 Istanbul earthquake|earthquake}}.<ref name="Revelations"/> Prince [[Ahmet]] ordered his confidante [[Hasan Pasha]] to recover a [[Memory Seals|Memory Seal]] from the [[tunnels]] beneath the palace exposed by the tremor.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''</ref>
Construction on the Sultan's new palace, then called Yeni Sarayi (New Palace), initially began in 1459, and concluded nearly a decade later, although every subsequent Sultan would continue to add to the overall complex. However, towards the end of his reign, [[Bayezid II]] relocated his throne to the original Ottoman capital of {{Wiki|Edirne|Adrianople}} following an {{Wiki|1509 Istanbul earthquake|earthquake}}.<ref name="Revelations"/> Prince [[Ahmet]] ordered his confidante [[Hasan Pasha]] to recover a [[Memory Seals|Memory Seal]] from the [[tunnels]] beneath the palace exposed by the tremor.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Recollection]]''</ref>


===Attack on Prince Suleiman===
{{Main|Attack on Suleiman I}}
{{Quote|We learned that the Byzantines are planning to infiltrate Topkapı Palace now that Prince Suleiman has returned from his hajj (pilgrimage). If they do strike, it will be tonight at the cultural exposition the Prince has organized.|Yusuf Tazim to Ezio Auditore.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
In 1511, the grandson of the then Sultan Bayezid II, Prince [[Suleiman I]], held a banquet for Ottoman nobility. It was meant to be a cultural exposition; however, the gathering was infiltrated by [[Byzantines|Byzantine]] [[Templars]]. These guests prepared to kill Prince Suleiman at the gathering, though the [[Assassins]] were aware of this plot.<ref name="Revelations"/>
[[File:Prince's banquet 11.png|thumb|250px|Ezio and Yusuf observe the gathering]]
With knowledge of this [[Templars|Templar]] conspiracy, a [[Master Assassin]] of the [[Turkish Assassins]], [[Yusuf Tazim]], planned to have his men enter the party dressed as [[Citizens#Minstrels|minstrels]], and eliminate the Templars. While he finalized their plans at the city's [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|Hippodrome]] along with a couple of Assassin [[apprentices]], they met up with the [[Mentor]] of the [[Italian Assassins]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], before the group made their way to Topkapı Palace.<ref name="Revelations"/>
Following this, they beat up [[Italy|Italian]] minstrels in order to obtain their clothing. Armed with their new disguises, the Assassins infiltrated the party. Once inside the gathering, Ezio migrated between groups of attending nobles, and upon [[Eagle Vision#Eagle Sense|identifying]] the Byzantine amongst each group, he would distract the nobles and signal for one of his fellow Assassins to stealthily kill the Byzantine. However, the Assassins were unable to locate Suleiman, and moved to an adjacent courtyard, where they found the Prince.<ref name="Revelations"/>
There, the Assassins repeated this process, and were able to successfully protect the young Prince from the Templars. However, a [[Guards|guard]] discovered one of the Byzantines' bodies, and immediately ordered for everyone to leave the courtyard. In the midst of the chaos, one of the Byzantine assassins managed to kill one of the guards, and ran at the Prince, preparing to stab him. However, the Assassins defused the threat, with Ezio being able to assassinate the Byzantine before he reached the Prince.<ref name="Revelations"/>
Having saved the Prince's life, Ezio and Suleiman then engaged in a brief discussion, which ended with the Prince telling Ezio to find him later, once he had removed his minstrel attire.<ref name="Revelations"/>
===Uneasy meeting===
{{Quote|There is a hatch at the top of that tower which leads to a secret room. Go there, wait, and watch.|Suleiman tells Ezio to observe the meeting.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
Later that night, once Ezio had returned after changing, Suleiman informed the Assassin of a meeting to take place between himself, his uncle, Prince [[Ahmet]], and the captain of the [[Janissaries]], [[Tarik Barleti]]. The Prince told Ezio to observe the meeting from a hidden room inside the palace's Tower of Justice.<ref name="Revelations"/>
[[File:Uneasy meeting 1.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio in the palace courtyard with Suleiman]]
Observing the meeting from the hidden room, Ezio watched vigilantly as Ahmet and Suleiman chastised Tarik for the Janissaries' failure to provide security at the party. Concerned with Tarik's allegiances to his family, Suleiman vowed to conduct a full-scale investigation into the incident. After this, the Prince left, although Ahmet and Tarik remained to discuss more private matters.<ref name="Revelations"/>
During their personal discussion, Ahmet questioned Tarik as to why the Janissaries despised him, yet admired his [[Selim I|brother]]. Tarik spoke freely in his response, claiming Ahmet was weak and would make a poor Sultan, but a decent philosopher. Enraged by this disparagement, Ahmet told Tarik to leave, before departing himself.<ref name="Revelations"/>
With the meeting concluded, Ezio returned to the Prince in the courtyard, where he informed Suleiman of his suspicions regarding Tarik. The two vowed to keep an eye on the captain, and Suleiman gave Ezio the [[Grand Bazaar|location]] of where he might find Tarik during the day. The Assassin agreed to start there, and left the palace grounds.<ref name="Revelations"/>
===Assassination orders===
Later that same year, in 1511, Ezio met with Suleiman again at the palace, this time to discuss Tarik's business dealings. Ezio informed the Prince that Tarik was selling weapons from the Ottoman Arsenal to a Templar miser, [[Manuel Palaiologos]]. The two discussed Manuel briefly, then Suleiman told Ezio to obtain the information he needed from Tarik, and then to kill the captain. Ezio questioned the Prince's orders at first, before agreeing, which ended the meeting.<ref name="Revelations"/>
===Covert rendezvous===
[[File:Mixed tiding 5.png|thumb|250px|Ezio, Ahmet, and Suleiman in a secluded section off the main courtyard]]
After Ezio assassinated Tarik at the Janissary camp, he returned to the palace to inform Suleiman of the deed. Meeting in an open, yet secluded, area away from the rest of the palace, Ezio discussed what he learned from Tarik. He told Suleiman that they both had made a mistake, Tarik was not a traitor. Instead, he had been plotting to destroy the Templar Order.<ref name="Revelations"/>
However, this meeting was cut short when Ahmet arrived, and talked briefly with Suleiman. Ahmet noticed Ezio though, and Suleiman introduced the Assassin as "Marcello", one of his ambassadors in Kefe. Ahmet greeted Ezio, before politely asking him to leave, stating he had private matters to discuss with his nephew.<ref name="Revelations"/>
===Legacy===
For many centuries thereafter, Topkapı Palace served as the centerpiece of the Sultan's power, and contained everything the Sultan needed to comfortably oversee the Empire. This included the {{Wiki|Harem}} for raising and educating wives of future royalty, the {{Wiki|Divan}} for the Sultan's meetings with the Sublime Porte, barracks for the Janissaries, and the Sultan's personal residence. During the 18th century, [[Jenny Kenway]] was sold to the Harem.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''</ref>
For many centuries thereafter, Topkapı Palace served as the centerpiece of the Sultan's power, and contained everything the Sultan needed to comfortably oversee the Empire. This included the {{Wiki|Harem}} for raising and educating wives of future royalty, the {{Wiki|Divan}} for the Sultan's meetings with the Sublime Porte, barracks for the Janissaries, and the Sultan's personal residence. During the 18th century, [[Jenny Kenway]] was sold to the Harem.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forsaken]]''</ref>


Revision as of 00:25, 4 November 2013


Ezio, my friend! How may I be of service?

This article is in desperate need of a revamp. Please improve it in any way necessary in order for it to achieve a higher standard of quality in accordance with our Manual of Style.

Topkapı Palace was a palace located in Constantinople, being the official and primary residence in the city for the Ottoman Sultans. Approximately, the Sultans resided in the palace for around four centuries, from 1465 up until 1856, of their 624-year reign of the Ottoman Empire.

History

In the dwindling years of the Byzantine Empire, many of the Imperial palaces laid in ruins, shattered by centuries of fighting and economic collapse. Following the Ottoman conquest, Sultan Mehmed II envisioned a palace at a strategically secure spot atop First Hill, the very tip of the peninsula.[1]

Construction on the Sultan's new palace, then called Yeni Sarayi (New Palace), initially began in 1459, and concluded nearly a decade later, although every subsequent Sultan would continue to add to the overall complex. However, towards the end of his reign, Bayezid II relocated his throne to the original Ottoman capital of Adrianople following an earthquake.[1] Prince Ahmet ordered his confidante Hasan Pasha to recover a Memory Seal from the tunnels beneath the palace exposed by the tremor.[2]

For many centuries thereafter, Topkapı Palace served as the centerpiece of the Sultan's power, and contained everything the Sultan needed to comfortably oversee the Empire. This included the Harem for raising and educating wives of future royalty, the Divan for the Sultan's meetings with the Sublime Porte, barracks for the Janissaries, and the Sultan's personal residence. During the 18th century, Jenny Kenway was sold to the Harem.[3]

Finally in 1856, Sultan Abdülmecid I moved his residence and court to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace, bringing an end to four centuries of Topkapi Palace's use as the main residence and the powerbase of the Ottoman Sultans.[1]

Trivia

  • As noted in the Database, Bayezid's absence was the reason why the Topkapı Palace was mostly empty of guards during Ezio's stay in Constantinople, despite being a restricted area.

Gallery

  • Topkapı's main courtyard during the day
    Topkapı's main courtyard during the day
  • Topkapı and the surrounding area
    Topkapı and the surrounding area
  • The main courtyard at night
    The main courtyard at night
  • Concept art of the palace
    Concept art of the palace

Reference

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Revelations
  2. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Recollection
  3. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
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